Manny  Smiled at the compliments  to the Food.I was hoping to meet your Lady tonight<, But that is the way of thing, is it  not.. here is
  out  Number for our Home. If you can  find  time we can  get Get toegther... There is a german fellow  down the  street from us? he  has a Cr dealership, that is ..how you say..'High End", but he  is a good  person./Brown>

 he points to the Cake  , then the  enchiladas,<Brown>both should be  in the fridge,  since you will be away?.. oven heat the enchaladas..the  cake   taste even  better  chilled

"I'm not sure what we are doing this evening. We have a party to attend, but sometimes we eat before we go - if so, those enchillandas may not last very long. I can call you if that happens if you'd care to meet Lu-Ti now. The welcome is really appreciated. If there are other nice people around here, maybe I should have a party to meet all of you. But that will have to be after the Superbowl. You see, you've told me you are a restauranteur and the other neighbour is a car dealer... I play football for a living!"

He wasn't surprised that his name wasn't recognised, not everybody was familiar with the team roster even if they had a passing interest in the local team. Plenty of people favoured other sports or weren't interested in sports at all. His mother was one, sport bored her.

He went to store the food as directed.

"I'll bring the dishes back once I have washed them. Thank you again."

  Manny  and Carla seemed  happy..yes?   For  The Dragons..we  know this...sadly..we like soccer  much better., and  we have  only been watching   football since   fans  want that on the TV  if they are eating   on Sundays!..but  we  are learnign the  game  more.. we have heard  your Name  mnay times   even on the spanish  ESPN  channel.

 Carla  gave  Ben an Understanding Smile.there is no rush?  Si ?  You and Yoru wife  see us  when things   quiet down, we are not goign anyhere!

 they gave  Ben handshakes  and  headed out the door to walk down to thier house.

"No worries. Do you follow women's soccer at all? One former US national team player has changed codes, and plays for the Dragons now. Heather Montgomery. See you both soon."

He returned the handshakes and headed off back to the Complex.

After the party

By the time they got home, Ben was tired. At least part of that was his lack of interest in parties. Lu-Ti enjoyed them so he'd keep on going with her.

"You ready for bed or is there anything else that you want?"

As ever, he'd indulge her every whim... provided he stayed awake!

There  was a  moment ofthough   as  Lu-Ti took off her shoesI know it is late?  but i have been thinking of the  food  you said our neighbors brought over?.. maybe a a taste of that...and...the cake? she giggled at the last part.

"Still hungry? OK, do you want a glass of wine with that?"

Actually a late snack quite appealed. He warmed the enchiladas through and got the cake out of the fridge, bringing everything through to wherever Lu-Ti had settled. This late it was probablly too chilly to sit out.

"Here you are. This does look good. We'll have to track down the restuarant and eat there someday."

    Lu-Ti smiled   as she breathed in the   aroma.there was a mexican  food shiop, a few blaocks  away from Lou's Mom's  place.. it was 100 %  mjexican.. you could  smell the spcies  and   and such  as  you neared the Building.. this smells just like that!

 she used a  fork and  cut away a bit.. she  fanned her  mouth, She had   asked for Ice Tea.. takign a sip, she giggled.Oh  my!..it is   just like that palce!...this..is very spicey..  Adam...he has how he says  'a wimpy mouth"..he does not  like overly spiced   foods.. Our  Family does...

 yes!, we need to find this place,, I want to try  thier other offerings... she eagers   took another fork full..

"They live in the blue house 2 doors down. Glad you like the food, hoped it wouldn't be too spicy for you."

Ben went to get her an iced tea and grabbed himself a beer.

  Lu-Ti nodded as she   forked off  another  bite. yes. My Family isused to   spiced  foods.  Adam used to  sneak out of the hoius to go to buger Palces, because he couldn't  eat much. Father pretended not  tyo see him 'escape". Just for fun?  Father would  'Catch Adam" when he came home... Adam used to say he  was seeing a girl, ebcause he didn't want to her the chef's  feelings

 we have some family recipes  that have  chicken , peas  noodles  and waterchestnuts..it is very good..and 'pinchy'

"I guess I'd better have a chat with your family chef, learn some of your favourites from him," said Ben, who was also enjoying the enchiladas.

"My father once told me about a visit he made to Hong Kong. He was staying with a British soldier who is vegetarian, so snuck out to burger joints to get a meat fix. He reckons that a meal that doesn't have meat or fish in it is a side dish, not a full serving!"

He popped the top off his beer and took a drink. He enjoyed beer, but had no intention of getting himself a DUI so never touched it when driving. Easier just not to have any than try to second guess how much was under the limit.

   Lu-Ti   smiled at Ben when he returned. I have  15 Cookbooks  at  the Manor , that are Mine, at least half of them are in Japanese.. So..to learn all of  our food secrets , you will have  to  cook with  me... Watch our chefs  cook at the Manor.. or learn Japanese reading.

she giggled,I am sure  there will be the Cook Outs at  theManor, where  Father  thinks  he is a wonderful chef!.. Yuto and Adam Like his  burgers... I like the Ribs  he  makes.. Mother does not like the mess he makes!

"So far I have been concentrating on learning to speak Japanese, but I guess I'd better learn to read and write as well," said Ben.

   Lu-Ti  flipped her hand back and forth as she took another bite. It could be important to read, depending on what you do after playing days?, and there  will always be trips home to Japan

 did you know?  Adam  could speak and Understand  Japanese.. i mean..he is  not  very good, but he  understands and  can make himself Understood..and? as far as i know...nonme of us  taught him... It was very  distrubing when he lashed out out me in Japanese, when i did the saame to him... he did it at a meeting as well.. The family..is....most  off balence  for that., it makes us wonder what  else he can do , that he learned

She Waggled  a finger  at him,no sneaky business...yes?  we do not need  two sneaks in the family!
This message was last updated by the player at 21:01, Tue 23 Jan.

"OK, so I waited until I could string a sentence together before I let on that I was learning Japanese," said Ben, throwing his hands up in mock surrender.

"But that was because I wanted to surprise you! And show the whole family how serious I am about you. Even without the business interests, you still have family in Japan. I hope you will want me by your side when you visit... or decide that's where you want to live. I'd hate to spend much time in a country where I could not get by in the language. As to what I'll be doing after playing, well... I don't know yet. But being able to function in a foreign language is never a hindrance..."

 she   finished her  enchilada , and  dabbed her lips,Now?  we have  Cake...and then go to bed..and after that?  we go to sleep..yes? she Grinned  at  him. sipping her drink. It was a bit  late, she had to be at the Offcie  by 6:00 but  Ben  could  sleep in if  he wished.

Ben got up to serve the cake.

"What are your plans tomorrow. I'm not sure what I'll be doing. It's wierd not having a practice."

  Lu-Ti  sighed,Much work getting things  for us going to Miami. We  have  to have security  ready  and all those things. the added  responsibility  for Saintsations  being flown down by  our airlines as well..The , around Lunch Time,  Lindsey and I are to go look  for  Wedding Dresses  and   pick out something  for bridesmaids to wear.. then? back to work until about 6.. maybe  i quit sooner. it depends on what i am doing and who is  trying to make me kill them!  she huffed.

"You work hard, beloved. What do you want me to wear for the wedding? A tux or something more... unusual?"

Some people set great store by clothing for a wedding. Most of the attention was on the bride, of course, but the groom had to be at least presentable. He'd seen pictures of British weddings where something called 'morning dress' was popular, a black tailcoat and striped pants, or sometimes all in a pale grey. Grooms in uniformed service could wear the fanciest outfit their service provided, but somehow he was certain a football uniform wouldn't do. Kilts were popular with people who had any pretensions to Scottish ancestry...

"Or do you want me to surprise you?"

I th8nk, for America, you dress with Tus...yes?  Yuto Loves  Tuxes..Adam..no  so much. how   do your other Groomsman  feel of Tux  wearing? she   took a bite of  cake...

 This...is very good!...we have to thank them in some way?

  she waved her hand..I have been in American  weddigns   as Bridesmaid... i did not like most of the dresses... I am goign to have Lindsey help me, so none of the  ladies  feel like they have ugly Dress.. Yes?  I am Bride, but everyone knows this?.. there is no reason to make   my  p[arty  look less then me..do you think?

"I shall only have eyes for you, beloved," said Ben, who was by now getting those 'I wish it were all over' vibes about the wedding.

"As for our kind neighbours, I think a dinner invitation might be in order. They're not football fans, so something like Superbowl tickets out of my allowance probably wouldn't be appropriate."

  we wil have to see, Yes?  Maybe  we bring them over Sunday?  only the pro bowl game is on..and it is a silly thing, None of our People will be playign in it, since  we have Superbowl.. We  could have  dinner  inside, ot , if it is warm enough, you could  Grill and I will make some things?

"But it's..., um. Yes, that might work," said Ben, who'd been about to say that it was football, moreover a game he could just watch for sheer pleasure, rather than because the outcome affected him and the team, or there was a team they'd have to face playing. He thought better of it, however, and hoped Lu-Ti didn't notice.

"Bit late to call them now. I can go round with a note tomorrow."

    when they were Finished , Lu-Ti  helped Ben with the  dishes  and  putting the leftovers  away.

  tomorrow , sometime after  work, we  should tansfer  the food  and   cake to Containers, and  we  could use the excuse to take the   clean containers back to them.

 faster all was done..Come?  I have work tomorrow  so we need to go to bed. Afterwards....we will go to sleep... she  grinned.

  around  6:00  Lu-Ti  got out of  bed , and went for a Shower, if  ben was  up, she  would say she'd be down in a moment  for Coffee.

  If Ben was sleeping she  would  , be, near soundless as she  made her way to the bathroom to take her showe.

  .......

 when finished  and  dressed in a  skirt heels  and  purple blouse,  she  would come  down for the  Coffee.I am  going to work when  finished here, I will , around   Lunch time or so, Be leaving with  Lindsey for  dress looking?.. when we  come back, I will need to stay until around 6  or  so? should i take my car, or  are you going  anywhere?